Lifted Up

"So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me." John 8:28 (ESV)

Referring to John 8:28, Jesus told the Jews that they would better understand once Jesus was lifted up. What does it mean that Jesus will be lifted up? In John 3:14 Jesus is talking with Nicodemus and states that He will be lifted up and He uses the picture of Moses raising the serpent on the pole. (If you remember back in Numbers 21, the people of Israel are being attacked by poisonous snakes. People continue to fall until Moses, in obedience to God, places a larger serpent on a pole and raises it up. When the people obey and look upon the serpent being lifted up, they are saved.) In John 12:32, Jesus references Himself being lifted up and saving men. Finally, in John 19 Jesus is actually lifted up on the cross.

Just like the sacrifices under the law were referred to as being lifted up or elevated, so is Christ the great sacrifice lifted up.

In another sense the lifting up of Christ can be seen as exaltation. The culmination of His perfect obedience to the Father was completed on the cross. His work was finished and He was ready to return to His heavenly home.

When you think about Christ today, remember that he not only was lifted up, as a victorious sacrifice, but He forever remains lifted up as He sits at the right hand of God the Father.
Our Saviour is truly Victor. May we have faith to believe it. Lift your eyes to the cross!

God bless you,
Dennis